The 1840 US Half Dollar, designed by Christian Gobrecht, marked a new era of American coinage with the Seated Liberty design. In 1840, economic recovery from the Panic of 1837 was underway, and the stable silver supply supported the production of coins like the 1840 US Half Dollar. Gobrecht’s Liberty seated on a rock reflected ideals of resilience and democracy during a politically divided period under President Martin Van Buren.
The 1840 US Half Dollar, composed of 90% silver, mirrored the nations dependence on silver as hard money amid debates over banking and currency policy. That year, westward expansion and increasing silver mining efforts strengthened the economy, reinforcing the importance of coins like the 1840 US Half Dollar. Gobrecht’s enduring design made the 1840 US Half Dollar a symbol of American perseverance and economic ambition.